Shipping box for chicks and the like



June 17, 1947.

R. N. RlHARDS 2,422,438-

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Patented June 17, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIPPING BOX FOR CHICKS AND THE LIKE Ralph N. Richards, Marion, Ind. Application June 12, 1943, Serial No. 490,609

11 Claims. 1

The invention relates to a shipping box for chicks and the like, and more particularly to boxes for shipping partially grown chicks that require water and food during the period of shipment.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved box of this character which may be supplied to the shipper or user in unassembled knock-down condition and which has in fixed association therewith a feeding device or feeder also in knock-down form, said box and feeder both being arranged for quick and easy conversion into their operative forms and in a predetermined relationship.

Another object is to provide in a box-of this character new and improved feeding means arranged to be folded from a pre-cut and pre-' creased blank into operative condition; and which has means associated therewith for securing it thus and for supporting it in the box.

Stated more specifically, an object is to provide,

in a chick shipping box adapted for erection from blank formto an operable condition and having therein a partition member subdividing its interior into compartments, a chick feeder also adapted for erection from blank form to an. operative condition for such association with the partition that it is maintained erected and is subdivided into sections, one for each compartment.

Another object is to provide a new and improved feeder for chick shipping boxes which may be readily erected from a preformed blank made of such material as card, chip or corrugated board.

Other objects and advantages Will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawing, in which: I

Figure 1 shows in perspective an external view of a chick shipping box embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the box with the cover lifted to expose the interior of the box.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the preformed blank from which the feeder is formed.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the boxblank a feeder blank associated therewith.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a partition.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view through the box taken on a vertical plane transversely of the feeder.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the feeder partially erected.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified shipping box.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showhaving form of to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Baby chicks that are not shipped from the hatchery immediately after hatching require food or water during transportation. Accordingly, when the customer wants an older chick (the age usually being about three weeks), means must be provided for supplying food and water to the chicks during the transportation period. The present invention is concerned with shipping boxes for such older chicks and provides a chick feeder which overcomes the disadvantages inherent in prior types of relatively high cost, inconvenience in filling it with food and difliculty in so assembling it with the box that the chicks cannot be injured by the feeder during shipment.

Referring to the drawings, the shipping box itself is generally conventional in form as is the preformed blank from which it is erected. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, the blank for the box bottom may be a square or rectangular sheet of suitable material (usually corrugated board) cut and creased, scored, or otherwise provided with weakened fold lines, to define a centrally located bottom panel l5, and four side wall panels l6, l1, l8 and I9 separated from the bottom panel by fold lines 20 respectively. Forconnecting adjoining side walls at each corner, the opposite side walls I! and I9 have securing flaps 2|, 22 respectively at each of their ends, these flaps being separated from the side walls l1, H by fold lines 23 and from the intermediate side walls I6, I8 by slots 24. The box is completed by folding the side walls I6 to ill, inclusive, perpendicularly to the bottom panel and suitably securing the flaps 2|, 22 to the side walls I 6, 18, as by metal staples 25 (Fig. 2).

The box cover 26 is of substantially the same construction as the box bottomexcept that the side walls 21 of the cover are narrower and the I top panel 28 is slightly larger. The bottom and the cover are provided with a plurality of ventilating knockouts 29.

The bottom and the cover blanks are customarily supplied to the user in knockdown form tion of the feeder. each have a series of apertures 46 therein providfor economy and convenience in. packing and shipping. Larger sizes of boxes are generally provided with one or more partition members 30 for dividing the box interior into separate compartments, these partitions beingprovided with end flaps 3| through which the-partition is suitably secured to opposite sidewalls, as by staples 32.

According to the present invention, a novel feeder 'is provided which is particularly well adapted for cooperation and association with a shipping box of the character described. The instant feeder is arranged to be folded from a preformed blank formed of a foldable material such as card, chip or corrugated board. Thus, the feeder may be supplied to the customer in knockdown form and, if desired, the feeder blank may be secured to the box blank in such position that when both blanks are erected or folded the feeder will have a. predetermined relationship within the box. Moreover, since the feeder, as will become apparent, is arranged to be wholly or partially secured in its folded form by a single means which divides the feeder into two sections, the relationship between the feeder blank and the box blank may be such that the partition secures the feeder blank in folded condition while dividing the feeder into a section for each compartment of the shipping box.

Referring to Fig. 3, the feeder blank, as herein illustrated, comprises a rectangularly shaped sheet of foldable material having a central bottom panel 33-, opposite side wall panels 34, opposite upper wall panels 35, and opposite lextension panels 36, these panels being separated from each other by fold lines 31, 38 and 33, respectively. Paralleling the side edges of :the blank are other fold lines 40 which, togetherwith sots 4| located as continuatlons of the fold lines 31, 33 and 39, define flaps 42, 43, 44 and 45 located a respectively at the ends of the bottom panel 33, atthe ends of the side wall panels 34, at the ends of the upper wall panels 35, and at theends oi the extension'panels 36. The bottom wall flaps 42 provide end walls for the lower portion of the folded feeder, the extension flaps 45 form the ,end walls of an upwandly opening extension through which the feeder may be filled, and the side and upper wall flaps 43 and 44 cooperate with the bottom wall flaps 42 to complete the lower por- The 'upper wall panels 35 ing access openings to the interior of the feeder.

The manner in which the feeder blank is folded may be seen in Fig. '7. The side wall panels 34 are folded along lines 31 to positions approximately at right angles to the bottom panel 33, the upper wall panels are turned inwardly at substantially right angles long lines 38 to overlie the bottom panel and the extension panels 36 are likewise foldedat substantially right angles along lines 39 but in a reverse direcv// 4 v I upstanding upwardly openingextension through which food available to the chicks through the access openings may be placed in the feeder.

As shown in Fig. 5, the partition is provided with a pair of spaced slots 41 which in assembly open downwardly. The slots 41 arespaced apart according to the distance between'the extension flaps 45 at the ends of the folded feeder. The extension flaps are provided with upwardly opening slots 48 alined in assembly and complemental to the slots 41. When the'p'arts are fitted together with the slots on one part'straddling the unslotted portions of the other part, an interlock is'formed to hold the feeder assembled with the partition dividing the feeder centrally into two longitudinal sections. Moreover, when thefeeder blank is preassembled with the box blank, the association of the partition with the folded feeder will properly locate the partition with respect to the box walls. the securing member need not also be a partition of a box.

Preferably, as shown in Fig. 6, the height of the partition and the feeder extension isysubstantially equal to the depth of the box so that.

the upper edges of the partition and extension will be adjacent to the box cover 26. The cover is provided with a, plurality of cut-outs forming tion to positions substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel. The width of each upper wall panel is less than half the width of the bottom panel to space the folded extension panels apart. The end'fiaps 44, 43 and 42 are successively and respectively folded downwardly, inwardly and upwardly to form completely closed end walls which may be held in place by such means as staples, glue or the like, or by the partition as will be hereinafter described. The extension flaps are folded inwardly and are dimensioned to overlap, and these may also be joined by suitable securing means whereby to complete the feeder. This unit has a closed bottom portion and an tabs 49 (Figs. 2 and 6) which can be bent inwardly. By arranging the tabs in pairs to straddle the partition and extend between it and the opposed extension wall 36 (in the present embodiment two pairs of such tabs have been shown), means is provided which not only supports the upper end of the partition and feeder at the center of the box but leaves openings registering with the extension on the feeder.

through which the supply of food in the feeder may be replenished without opening the box;-

Drinking water may be supplied by means of drinking founts, designated generally at 50. The

illustrated which embodies a plurality of partitions subdividing the box interior into more than two compartments. As illustrat'ed,there are two partitions 5| each having associated therewith a feeder 52 of the character previously described.

Referring to the form of device shown-in Fig. 9 the modification of the forms previously 'described is in making the access openings 53in the top walls larger than the openings 46 in the other forms and in advantageously using the material cut away in forming the openings. Thus the apertures 53 have substantially the width of the top' wall and longitudinally may extend over a greater portion of the length of the top wall. These openings are formed by cutting the material on three sides including an intermediate out along the crease line 38. The. cut away material remains as a flap 54 forming a continuation of the extension 36 arranged to project downwardly into the feeder below the top wall 35.

Since the top wall is somewhat narrower than 'the associated side wall-34 the lower edgeof the flap 54 is spaced above the feeder bottom to permit food to pass from the extension into the lower This form is advantgeous in that the the access openings are larger, the flow of food is controlled and maintained at a lower level in the accessible parts of the feeder whereby waste is avoided and the flaps It will be evident, however, that eliminate a sharp edge on which the bills of the chicks might be injured.

"In the form shown in Fig. 9 the lower edge of the partition within the feeder is modified by cutting it away, as indicated at 55, along its lower edge so that food may shift from side to side past the partition. This arrangement eliminates possible inequality in the distribution of food on the opposite sides of the partition. The feeder or the partition shown in Fig. 9 may if desired be used with the type of partition or feeder shown in the other figures.

It will be evident from the foregoing that a novel shipping container for chicks has been provided which may be supplied to the user in flat, knockdown condition, yet has certain component elements thereof preassembled to determine theproper relationship of all of the elements of the box. The unit blank may be quickly and conveniently erected by folding the box and feeder blanks along their predetermined lines of fold, securing the overlapping parts of the box blank together, securing the overlapping parts of the feeder together by sliding the partition into its interlocking association therewith, and fastening the ends of the partition to the adjacent box walls. Upon assembly of the drinking fount with the box as described in my copending application aforesaid, the box is in completed condition with the exception of the tabs 49 on the cover which are infolded following assembly of the cover on the box after the chicks have been placed therein for shipment. The preassembly of the box and feeder blanks has the added advantage of permanently relating the feeder to the box in such manner that the user need take no further precaution to prevent injury of the chicks by the feeder during shipment. It will be noted moreover that the tubular extension on the feeder is not only a convenience to the shipper in filling the feeder, but provides a hopper in which a reserve supply of feed may be stored.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a blank assembly for a shipping box of the character described, the combination of a, fiat box blank cut and creased to define a bottom panel, side wall panels and securing flaps, a-

feeder blank cut and creased to define a bottom panel, side and end walls, an apertured upper Wall and securing fiaps, and means for securing the bottom panels of said blanks together in such position as to locate the erected box and feeder in a predetermined relationship.

2. A shipping box for chicks or the like having, in combination, a box structure, a feeder in said box structure having an upwardly extending tubular member through which the feeder may be filled from above, a partition dividing the interiors of said box structure and said feeder and said tubular member, and means for securing said feeder and an intermediate portion of said partition together.

3. A shipping box for chicks or the like having, in combination, a box having a cover, a feeder Within said box spaced from the side walls thereof, a member secured to said box and having a holding engagement with said feeder, and means on said cover engageable with said member to prevent shifting thereof. A

4. A shipping box for chicks or the like having, in combination, a box structure, a feeder in said box structure spaced from the side walls thereof, said feeder having overlapping walls, and a member secured to said box structure and engaging said overlapping walls to' maintain them in such condition.

5. A shipping box of the character described having, in combination, a" box structure, a separable cover therefor, a feeder in said box structure folded from-a preformed blank and having opposite walls thereof provided by overlapping members, a partition arranged in said box structure to divide the box structure into compartments and to intersect both of said walls, said partition engaging said overlapping members to hold them in overlapping condition, and said feeder including an upwardly opening extension terminating adjacent to the plane occupied bythe cover, said cover having openings therein above said exten- I sion through which food may be placed in said feeder on both sides of said partition.

6. A shipping box of the having, in combination, a box structure, a feeder in said box structure folded from a preformed blank and having opposite walls thereof provided by overlapping members, and a partition arranged in said box structure to divide the box structure into compartments and to intersect both of said walls, said partition engaging said overlapping I member's to hold them in overlapping condition.

7. A blank for a chick feeder formed of a foldable board material comprising a substantially rectangularly shaped sheet having fold lines paralleling the end edges to divide said sheet into a central bottom panel, opposite side wall panels, opposite top wall panels, and opposite extension wall panels, said sheet having other fold lines paralleling the side edges to provide end securing flaps on each of said panels, said flaps on said bottom panel forming the end walls of'the lower portion of said feeder, said flaps on said side and top wall panels cooperating therewith to close said lower portion, said flaps on said extension wall panels forming the end walls of an upwardly, opening filling extension, and said top wall panels having access openings therein.

8. Ablank for a chick feeder formed of a foldable board material comprising a substantially rectangulariy shaped sheet having fold lines dividing said sheet into. a, central bottom, opposite side walls, opposite upper walls of less width than half the width of the bottom, and opposite extensions, each of these divisions having end flaps forming end walls when said blank is folded, said upper walls having openings therein, and the end flaps on said extensions having slots therein registrable to receive securing means.

9. In a blank for a chick feeder, a sheet of a foldable material having lines of fold defining the bottom, end and side walls of a food compartment, and an upper wall provided with access openings, said blank having portions arranged in the formed feeder to extend outwardly beyond the upper wall in spaced relation to each other and providing a tubular filling extension opening into the compartment.

10. A feeder comprising, in combination, a container formed of a foldable board material and having bottom, side and, end walls, relatively narrow upper walls adjoining the side walls and having access openings therein, upwardly extending walls-between said upper walls defining a filling passage, and a partition connected with said upwardly extending walls and dividing said feeder into compartments.

11. A feeder comprising, in combination, a-container formed of a foldable board material and having bottom, side and end walls, relatively character described having. access openings therein, the adjacent edges of said upper walls each having an out: ward exienslun thereon, flaps on the and edges of said extensions dimensioned to overlap, and a partition in said feeder substantially paralleling 5 said extensions and connected with said flaps,

RALPH N. RICHARDS.

REFERENSES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 1,253,723 I Quix n Jan. 15, 1918 15 Number Number Great Britain Dec. 16, 1937 

